Final December, the Upshot printed a information to Wheel of Fortune methods, utilizing information from greater than 6,000 bonus-round puzzles. Our information has influenced the conduct of not less than one contestant. Scott Menke, a knowledge analyst from New Jersey, gained $52,690 in money and prizes on an episode final month after creating a technique based mostly on our article, he stated.
A few of Mr. Menke’s preparation, and his calmness below strain, is just not simply replicable. It got here from expertise: He had been a semifinalist on the “Jeopardy!” faculty championship, gained $20,000 on “Who Needs to Be a Millionaire,” and banked $50,000 on “The $100,000 Pyramid.”
When competing on “Wheel,” he stated, he hardly had any nerves.
However a lot of his preparation is a sensible case examine for future contestants. He went past our information and got here up with an excellent set of suggestions for clean phrases.
Right here’s Mr. Menke’s ultimate bonus-round puzzle (with the letters R, S, T, L, N and E already given and B, G, H and O chosen). Be at liberty to pause and think about doable options. Then learn on to see how he ready for the second.
As soon as Mr. Menke discovered he was going to be on “Wheel of Fortune” in February, he had simply 20 days earlier than taping. To review for the primary recreation, when he could be up towards two different contestants, he downloaded previous puzzles from the fan-created Wheel of Fortune Puzzle Compendium. However given the unpredictability of the primary recreation, he determined that “95 p.c” of his prep could be on the bonus spherical. He discovered our article on bonus-round technique and started coaching.
Scott Menke’s ‘Wheel’ Coaching Routine
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First, he determined that if he made it to the bonus spherical, he would decide the “Phrase” class, which we really helpful in our information, and BGHO as his further letters, which we really helpful as tied for the very best mixture. (The participant is robotically given RSTLNE first.)
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Since he knew he was undoubtedly choosing BGHO, he practiced previous bonus-round puzzles with each the default RSTLNE and his BGHO stuffed in.
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Mr. Menke says the very best factor to check is phrases which are all clean. Though clean phrases are intimidating at first, the variety of phrases that may be clean after the letters RSTLNE and BGHO are stuffed in is smaller than you’d assume. For example, of the 24 commonest two-letter phrases, solely 4 wouldn’t have any of these letters. Utilizing the info from previous bonus-round puzzles, he decided that such a clean two-letter phrase would almost definitely be MY or UP.
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He then did this for all clean phrase combos from two to seven letters. The examine sheet he created is under.
When the letters have been revealed for the ultimate bonus spherical, he instantly knew the ultimate three phrases (AT THE OPPORTUNITY) however didn’t know the primary clean phrase. He began “biking by way of the listing” of clean phrases out loud, saying PICK and PACK first. When he lastly obtained the right reply, JUMP, he didn’t notice it at first.
Mr. Menke stated he knew his preparation was working when, whereas working towards at house on previous bonus-round puzzles, he was in a position to resolve an virtually utterly clean puzzle instantly. Though the puzzle under appears unsolvable at first look, when you use his examine information, it might truly be simpler than most clues which have many letters stuffed.
